Hirsutism: Measures and Treatment

Hirsutism is often associated with enormous suffering for affected women, because the excessive body hair and the other signs of masculinization often lead to women feeling themselves as unattractive or being ostracized by others. However, treatment of hirsutism is possible. You can find out how the therapy is done here.

Measures against the effects – physical and mental.

Because external masculinization often has severe psychological consequences, it is a serious condition that must be treated. The scars caused by the constant rejection by the environment should not be underestimated in any case.

Thus, especially mothers who discover hirsutimus in their daughters should consult a doctor as early as possible in order to allow their child a normal physical and social development.

Sustained removal of body hair important

The first priority is to remove the unwanted body hair as sustainably as possible. For which method the individual concerned decides, depends thereby also on the skin type, an existing acne and – and unfortunately also – the purse.

Those affected can find advice and help from trained cosmeticians and dermatologists. The following methods are possible, for example:

  • Wax depilation or epilation are somewhat painful, but lasts longer than simple shaving.
  • If the hair is soft and thin, you can consider simply bleaching it.
  • Particularly thorough are methods such as laser epilation or destroying the hair root with a small electric shock (electroepilation). These treatments can be performed by dermatologists or well-run beauty salons.

Treatment with medication

To address the problem from the inside, for example, the birth control pill is suitable. Products containing both estrogen and progestin can reduce the production of testosterone in the ovaries. In addition, estrogen causes the male hormone to be bound in the body, i.e. rendered ineffective. Progestin accelerates the excretion of testosterone.

Agents considered particularly suitable for combination with estrogen are:

Three out of four patients respond well to this treatment. Unfortunately, birth control pills also have side effects. Especially women over 35 years, who also smoke, should think twice about taking these preparations.

As an alternative, preparations are also offered which reduce the activity of the ovaries. This type of medication, together with an estrogen preparation, can have similarly good success rates as the birth control pill. However, it is also a hormone and is also comparatively expensive.

Unfortunately, there are women whose problem with unwanted hair cannot be influenced by medication. The only thing left for them is hair removal and a lot of patience with themselves.

Sport and healthy diet as an important pillar of therapy.

Women with PCOS are usually instructed by their doctor to reduce their excess weight by changing their diet and to exercise. Nutritional counseling can help to lose weight. Walking, for example, a gentle endurance sport that does not stress the joints and helps to get the metabolism back on a normal track, is well suited.

In some cases, this can even eliminate the need for medication and establish a regular cycle. It is therefore important to consult a doctor and take measures to alleviate the symptoms: After all, three quarters of all women with hirsutism can be helped.